Santa Monica police to target drivers talking, texting on phones

This month, the Santa Monica Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Section will crack down on drivers talking or texting on cell phones.

Police are reminding drivers that it’s against the law in California to talk on a hand-held cell phone, and to write, send or read text-based communications on a cell phone or smartphone or other electronic wireless device while driving.

The California law on handheld cell phones, one of the first in the nation, went into effect in 2008. The ban on texting while driving followed in 2009.

Under the law, juveniles are not allowed to use cell phones at all while driving with or without an ear piece.

The Santa Monica Police Department plans to focus on different driving behaviors each month that are considered primary causes of traffic collisions, Sgt. Richard Lewis said.